Disabled Palestinian couple sew dolls to give children ‘decent life’

Author: AFP

RAFAH: With skilled fingers, disabled Gazan couple Nihad and Zeinab Jarboa have supported themselves by sewing finely detailed dolls and costumes, but the coronavirus pandemic has hurt their already meagre income.

Making a living is a challenge for all residents of the Israeli-blockaded Palestinian territory, which is ruled by Hamas and where the poverty rate exceeds 50%.

But the Jarboas face added adversity.

Nihad, 37, has been physically disabled since childhood while Zeinab, 35, had both feet amputated after contracting a rare disease while giving birth to her second child.

Both use wheelchairs, further limiting their work options in the Gaza Strip, where the unemployment rate is above 50%, according to official statistics.

The Jarboas have perfected a craft of making dolls and costumes inspired by cartoon characters.

They generate a modest income by selling the dolls and by sending costumed performers to nurseries and schools.

Before the pandemic, “we sold around 20 to 30 dolls a month at 10 ($2.90 dollars) shekels a piece”, Nihad told AFP.

They also charged about 20 shekels (around $6) each to send actors to perform at events.

“But everything stopped with the pandemic,” he said.

Access to Gaza was already tightly controlled by Israel and Egypt before the virus, which has left 78 confirmed infections and one dead in Gaza.

Hamas has imposed lockdown restrictions since March, including bans on gatherings and the closure of schools and mosques.

Won’t ‘give up’

Maher al-Tabaa, an economist at Gaza’s chamber of commerce, said COVID-19 has further weakened Gaza’s fragile economy.

“Unemployment and poverty rates are expected to increase,” Tabaa told AFP, adding that 80% of the population was already dependent on food aid.

Even though some restrictions have been lifted, the Jarboas said they have only received two requests for shows while doll sales are down 75%.

“We won’t give up, even if it’s hard,” said Zeinab as she prepared tea on a stove in their one-bedroom apartment in Rafah refugee camp of southern Gaza.

“Things are harder with coronavirus (but) I am strong enough,” she said, her hair covered with a pink scarf.

“I want to raise my children so they have a decent life.”

Like nearly 50% of Gaza residents, the Jarboas receive food aid from the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Over 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their land at Israel’s creation in 1948. Survivors and descendants are considered refugees by the UN.

But UNRWA’s support is “not enough to buy food”, said Zeinab as she sewed a brightly coloured costume inspired by Donald Duck.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Pakistan

Parliament passes bills on military chiefs tenure extension, SC expansion

The National Assembly on Monday passed six bills, including one seeking an increase in the…

40 mins ago
  • Pakistan

SBP cuts key policy rate by 250bps to 15pc

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Monday that it had decided to cut…

9 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Verdict reserved on Imran, wife’s bail pleas in 7 cases

The district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday reserved its verdict on bail pleas…

9 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Six terrorists killed in two KP operations

At least six terrorists were killed by the security forces in two separation operations in…

9 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Punjab has no plan to buy PIA, clarifies minister

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Monday said that the provincial government had "no intentions"…

9 hours ago
  • World

Israeli strikes kill 10 in Gaza, keep up pressure on north

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 10 Palestinians in Gaza, with seven dead in an attack…

9 hours ago